Tape measure marking device and method for use thereof

Abstract

A tape measure marking device and method for use thereof in which a C-member is removably attached to the tape case across a narrow dimension thereof, by an existing screw in the tape case being inserted through the C-member. The C-member includes an implement holding member projecting to a side of the tape case, the implement holding member providing for releasably attaching a marking or cutting implement to the tape case. The C-member further includes an indexing member disposed across a substantial portion of an extensible tape being extended from the tape case and the implement holding member provides for centering marking implements having different sizes and shapes to register with the indexing member.

I claim: 
     
       1. A marking device for use with a tape measure having an extensible tape, a first side and a second side, a front and a bottom, and an opening between the first side and the second side disposed substantially at the juncture of the front and the bottom, through which the tape extends, comprising: a substantially rigid C-member for removable attachment to the tape measure, said C-member having a central portion and two side portions disposed at opposite ends of said central portion for attaching said central portion to the tape measure adjacent the front of the tape measure immediately above the opening between the first side and the second side, said central portion of said C-member having an indexing portion for identifying a position on the tape; and   a marking implement holding member extending from one said side portion of said C-member, said marking implement holding member being adapted to hold a marking implement having a marking tip so that the center of said marking tip is laterally aligned with said indexing portion.   
     
     
       2. The marking device of claim 1, wherein said indexing portion comprises an edge of said central portion extending substantially from side to side thereof in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the tape. 
     
     
       3. The marking device of claim 1, wherein, when the device is mounted on a tape measure, said central portion has an upper front portion spaced upwardly away from the tape and a lower front portion spaced outwardly away from the tape measure and said central portion includes a concave surface between said upper front portion and lower front portion of said central portion, thereby forming said indexing portion at said lower front portion of said central portion. 
     
     
       4. The marking device of claim 3, wherein said indexing portion comprises an edge of said lower front portion of said central portion extending substantially from side to side thereof in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extension of the tape. 
     
     
       5. The marking device of claim 1, wherein said marking implement holding member includes a marking implement alignment member which holds a marking implement having an elongate dimension so that said elongate dimension is substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the tape. 
     
     
       6. The marking device of claim 1, wherein an aperture is formed in one side of said C-member for receiving a threaded fastener to fasten said C-member to the tape measure. 
     
     
       7. The marking device of claim 1, wherein a threaded aperture is formed in one side of said C-member for receiving a threaded member to fasten said C-member to the tape measure by lateral pressure. 
     
     
       8. The marking device of claim 1, wherein said marking implement holding member includes a marking implement alignment member which holds a marking implement having an elongate dimension so that said elongate dimension is substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the tape, said marking implement alignment member having a marking implement clamping member and a marking implement clamping opening for receiving said clamping member. 
     
     
       9. The marking device of claim 8, wherein said marking implement clamping opening includes a wall portion disposed across from said marking implement clamping opening and wherein said marking implement clamping opening includes a plurality of jaws in said wall portion, said jaws defining a substantially "V" shaped cross-section so that said elongate dimension of said marking implement is held substantially perpendicular to and makes at least two symmetric contact points with said "V" shaped cross-section for securely gripping said marking implement when inserted therein. 
     
     
       10. The marking device of claim 1, wherein said indexing portion comprises an edge of said central portion extending substantially from side to side thereof in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the tape; when the device is mounted on a tape measure, said central portion has an upper front portion spaced upwardly away from the tape and a lower front portion spaced outwardly away from the tape measure, and said central portion includes a concave surface between said upper front portion and said lower front portion of said central portion, thereby forming said indexing portion at said lower front portion of said central portion; and said marking implement holding member includes a marking implement alignment member which holds a marking implement having an elongate dimension so that said elongate dimension is substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the tape. 
     
     
       11. The marking device of claim 1, wherein each said side portion includes a mechanism for securing said side portion to the respective side of the tape measure. 
     
     
       12. A marking device for use with a tape measure having an extensible tape, a first side and a second side, and an opening between the first side and the second side through which the tape extends, comprising: a substantially rigid C-member having a central portion and two side portions and being adapted to be removably attachable to the tape measure so that said central portion is disposed between the first side and the second side, and said two side portions are disposed respectively adjacent the first side and the second side of the tape measure, said central portion of said C-member having an indexing portion for identifying a position on the tape;   a marking implement holding member extending from one side of said C-member, said marking implement holding member comprising a marking implement alignment member having a marking implement clamping member and a marking implement clamping opening for receiving said clamping member, wherein said marking implement holding member is adapted to hold a marking implement having a marking tip so that the center of said marking tip is laterally aligned with said indexing portion and having an elongate dimension so that said elongate dimension is substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the tape; and   said marking implement clamping opening includes a wall portion disposed across from said marking implement clamping opening, wherein said marking implement clamping opening includes a plurality of first jaws in said wall portion, said first jaws being substantially coplanar with an axis of said marking implement clamping opening, said first jaws defining a substantially "V" shaped cross-section, and wherein said marking implement clamping member includes a threaded body, said threaded body having a plurality of second jaws at an end thereof, said second jaws being substantially coplanar with the axis of said marking implement clamping opening, said second jaws defining a substantially "V" shaped cross-section, said second jaws being disposed in opposition to said first jaws for gripping said marking implement when inserted into said marking implement clamping opening.   
     
     
       13. A marking device for use with a tape measure having an extensible tape, a first side and a second side, and an opening between the first side and the second side through which the tape extends, comprising: a substantially rigid C-member having a central portion and two side portions and being adapted to be removably attachable to the tape measure so that said central portion is disposed between the first side and the second side, and said two side portions are disposed respectively adjacent the first side and the second side of the tape measure, said central portion of said C-member having an indexing portion for identifying a position on the tape;   a marking implement holding member extending from one side of said C-member, said marking implement holding member comprising a marking implement alignment member having a marking implement clamping member and a marking implement clamping opening for receiving said clamping member, wherein said marking implement holding member is adapted to hold a marking implement having a marking tip so that the center of said marking tip is laterally aligned with said indexing portion and having an elongate dimension so that said elongate dimension is substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the tape; and   said marking implement holding member includes a threaded receptacle threadably engaging said marking implement clamping member, for carrying said marking implement clamping member and for adjusting penetration of said marking implement clamping member into said marking implement aperture through said marking implement clamping opening.   
     
     
       14. The marking device of claim 13, wherein said threaded receptacle is a rotatable ring having internal threads, said marking implement clamping member includes a tubular body having external threads, and said rotatable ring threadingly engages said external threads of said tubular body and rotates therearound. 
     
     
       15. The marking device of claim 14, wherein said marking implement holding member includes a stop disposed over said clamping opening and a circumferential channel adjacent said stop, wherein said rotatable ring is carried by said channel and is captured by said stop. 
     
     
       16. The marking device of claim 15, wherein said tubular body includes a transverse channel extending from an end thereof and said stop includes a wall portion and an aperture, said wall portion being disposed within said transverse channel and said tubular body having a portion thereof extending through said aperture. 
     
     
       17. A marking device for use with a tape measure having an extensible tape, a first side and a second side, and an opening between the first side and the second side through which the tape extends, comprising: a substantially rigid C-member having a central portion and two side portions and being adapted to be removably attachable to the tape measure so that said central portion is disposed between the first side and the second side, and said two side portions are disposed respectively adjacent the first side and the second side of the tape measure, said central portion of said C-member having an indexing portion for identifying a position on the tape;   a marking implement holding member extending from one side of said C-member, said marking implement holding member comprising a marking implement alignment member having a marking implement clamping member and a marking implement clamping opening for receiving said clamping member, wherein said marking implement holding member is adapted to hold a marking implement having a marking tip so that the center of said marking tip is laterally aligned with said indexing portion and having an elongate dimension so that said elongate dimension is substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the tape; and   said making implement clamping opening includes a wall portion disposed across from said marking implement clamping opening, wherein said marking implement clamping opening includes a plurality of first jaws in said wall portion, said first jaws defining a substantially "V" shaped cross-section, and said marking implement clamping member includes a threaded body, said threaded body having a plurality of second jaws at an end thereof, said second jaws defining a substantially "V" shaped cross-section, said second jaws being disposed in opposition to said first jaws for gripping said marking implement when inserted into said marking implement clamping opening.   
     
     
       18. A method for attaching a marking implement to a tape measure marking device, comprising the steps of: inserting a marking implement into a marking implement holder having a marking implement aperture for receiving the marking implement; and   rotating a threaded ring about a threaded body wherein said threaded body threadably engages said ring to penetrate said marking implement aperture in accordance with the degree of rotation thereof, for clamping the marking implement within the marking implement aperture.   
     
     
       19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of removing an existing screw from an existing hole in the tape measure, aligning with said existing hole a marking device for use with a tape measure comprising a substantially rigid C-member having a central portion and two side portions and being adapted to be removably attachable to the tape measure so that said central portion is disposed adjacent an opening of the tape measure, and reinstalling said existing screw through said mounting aperture and thence into said existing hole. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of automatically centering said marking implement within said marking implement aperture, wherein the marking implement may be of varying cross-sectional sizes and shapes. 
     
     
       21. A marking device for use with a tape measure having an extensible tape, a first side and a second side, and an opening between the first side and the second side through which the tape extends, comprising: a substantially rigid C-member having a central portion and two side portions and being adapted to be removably attachable to the tape measure so that said central portion is disposed between the first side and the second side, and said two side portions are disposed respectively adjacent the first side and the second side of the tape measure, said central portion of said C-member having an indexing portion for identifying a position on the tape;   a marking implement holding member extending from one side of said C-member, said marking implement holding member comprising a marking implement alignment member having a marking implement clamping member and a marking implement clamping opening for receiving said clamping member, wherein said marking implement holding member is adapted to hold a marking implement having a marking tip so that the center of said marking tip is laterally aligned with said indexing portion and having an elongate dimension so that said elongate dimension is substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the tape; and   said marking implement clamping member includes a threaded body, said threaded body having a plurality of jaws at an end thereof, said jaws defining a substantially "V" shaped cross-section for gripping said marking implement when inserted into said marking implement clamping opening.   
     
     
       22. A method for attaching a tape measure marking device to a tape measure, comprising the steps of: removing an existing screw from an existing hole in the tape measure;   aligning with said existing hole a mounting aperture of said tape measure marking device, said tape measure marking device comprising a substantially rigid C-member having a central portion and two side portions, each side portion being adapted to be removably attachable to the tape measure so that said central portion is disposed adjacent an opening of the tape measure;   reinstalling said existing screw through said mounting aperture of said tape measure marking device and into said existing hole; and   installing a mounting device through a second mounting aperture on the opposite side of the tape measure marking device so that said C-member is securely mounted to the tape measure on both sides thereof.   
     
     
       23. The method of claim 22, wherein said C-member includes a transverse arm at a second end thereof, said transverse arm having a threaded hole and having a set-screw therein, further comprising the step of tightening said set-screw against the tape measure.